Who Tom Buchanan is
Tom Buchanan lives with Daisy in East Egg, where the older and more fashionable rich make their homes. He comes from a wealthy Chicago family, keeps polo ponies, and speaks in a loud, bullying manner. His forceful presence combines physical strength with the certainty of someone whose social position feels secure.
What Tom Buchanan wants
Tom acts as though wealth gives him permission to do whatever he wants. He lectures others about moral order while keeping a mistress and showing little shame about his own conduct. His judgments of Gatsby focus on manners and origins, revealing how strongly he values inherited status.
Tom Buchanan and the others in the story
Daisy knows about Tom's affair, though she keeps smiling when a telephone call interrupts their dinner with Nick. His mistress, Myrtle Wilson, lives near the valley of ashes and is drawn toward the glamour of his world.
When Tom visits Gatsby's party, he dislikes the crowds and suspects that his host makes money through bootlegging. As Daisy and Gatsby grow closer, Tom begins to examine his wife's new friend more closely.
Questions
Who is Tom Buchanan married to?
Tom is married to Daisy Buchanan, Nick Carraway's cousin.
Where does Tom Buchanan's money come from?
Tom's money comes from his family in Chicago. He belongs to the established wealthy class rather than the newly rich world Gatsby represents.
Is Tom Buchanan a good person?
Tom behaves selfishly and treats others in a domineering way. His affair and his contempt for Gatsby show the gap between his moral lectures and his actions.